Sterilizer.



0. I. WILSON.

STERILIZER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.28, 1914.

1,149,01 O. Patented Aug. 3, 191 5.

WITNESSES L SJ Our: M450 7 ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,WASHINGTON, n. c.

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OLIVE 1.: WILSON, or s'r. EDWARD, nnnnasm.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Pat ted. Aug. 3, 1915.

Applicationfiled April 28, 1914. Serial No. 834,944.

More particularly stated, my invention contemplates a sterilizer havingthe form of a vat to be heated, this vat being provided with means forpreventing thejars or cans employed from becoming unduly or unequallyheated, in such manner as to scorch or to burn the contents.

My invention further, comprehends various improvements in sterilizers,for the pose of improving the general efiiciency thereof.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification, and in which like letters indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a section, substantially on the line 11 of Fig. 2, lookingin the direction of the arrow, and showing my improved sterilizer. Fig.2 is a horizontal section,.on

the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 isa detail view, showing in horizontal section one of the metallic ringsused for spacing apart the cans or jars. Fig. 4 is a plan view of thestertilizer complete. i

A copper bottom is shown at 5, and at 6 is a wall connected to thebottom 5, these parts together constituting a vat. The wall 6 at itsupper edge is provided with a lwire head 7 A joint 8 connects the wall 6with the bottom 5, as may be understood from Fig. 1. A cover is shown at9, and is provided at its top with a handle 10. The upper portion of thecover is substantially conical, in order to facilitate the return of thewater of condensation from the steam. The cover 9 is provided with aflange 11 which fits into the upper portion of the vat. Two handles 12and 13 are mounted upon the vat in order to facilitate the handling ofthe latter. The vat and its cover are each of the proximate form of atriangle, the corners however being rounded, as may be understood fromFigs. 2 and 4. Located lwithin the bottom of the vat are a number, ofrings 14, each provided with a number of perforations 15. Thse rings areso fitted into position that they occupy a minimum of space. I find thatten rings, distributed as indicated in Fig. 2, are quite economical ofspace, and that, when the rings are thus disposed, they are easilycaused to touch each other, thereby avoiding the formation of voids "ofunnecessary size. The rings are securedtogether by'rivets 14.

Located within each ring 14 is a spiral spring '16, thei general' formof which is an nular, the spring by its tendency to expand clingingclosely to the inner surface of the annular spiral springs 16-the baseof each jar extendinginto a ring 14.

A body of water contained within the vat is shown at 18, and is free tocirculate between the cans and below the same, as the holes 15facilitate this purpose.

The spiral springs 16 and the spacing rlngs 14 together constitute amat, which not only maintains the cans in suitable spatial relation, butsupports them above the bottom 5. Each can 17, by resting upon a spring16, is effectively spaced from the bottom of the vat. Moreover, when thevat is heated, the heat is distributed somewhat near equally to thebottoms of the cans, by virtue of the conducting power of the spring 16for heat.

With a sterilizer constructed as above described, there is no chance forthe contents of the cans being heated to excess, or even to be heatedunequally to any great extent.

Fruits and vegetables placed within the cans and sterilized by heatingwith this apparatus, are not liable to be burned.

I do not limit myself to the precise mechanism shown, as variations maybe made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention, thescope of which is commensurate with my claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A sterilizer comprising a vat having a substantially equilateraltriangular form and provided with rounded corners, a plurality ofspacing rings fitted into said vat and secured together, one of saidrings being lodged in each corner, and each ring being adapted toreceive the base of a receptacle the contents of which are to be isadapted to rest.

port said receptacles.

sterilized, an annular spiral spring located in each ring for yieldinglysupporting the receptacle, and a cover for said vat. r

2. In a sterilizer, the combination of a vat, a'plurality of aperturedspacing rings located Within said vat and resting upon the bottomthereof, each ring being adapted the depth of said spiral spring beingless than the depth of said rings, said spacing rings and the springslocated therein together forming a mat adapted to receive the bases ofreceptacles and yieldingly sup- 4. In a sterilizer, the combination of avat, a plurality of rings mounted Within said vat and severally providedwith holes Copies of this patent may be obtained for to facilitate thecirculation of a liquid 'therethrough, said rings being securedtogether, and a yielding supporting member mounted Within each ring forsupporting a receptacle, the contents of which are to be sterilized,said rings and the supporting members therein together forming a matadapted to receive the bases of receptacles and yieldingly support saidreceptacles.

5. A mat for holding a plurality of receptacles in a vat, consisting ofa plurality of bandelike rings ,apertured and secured together, therings being adapted to rest on thebottom of the vat and each to receive,the base of a receptacle, and an annular spiral spring in the lowerportion of each ring, thespring being of less diameter than the Width ofthe ring and yieldingly supporting the receptacle held in the ring.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

V OLIVE I. WILSON.

Witnesses:

ROBERT J. HARRIS, JAMES S. Jonas.

five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner'of Patents, Washington,D. G.

